Mount Lorette Raptor Count Spring 2012

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

April
22 [Day
48] (Bill Wilson, assisted by Cliff Hansen) The last day of the
spring 2012 count started with a temperature of -2C at 0600 that rose
to a high of 18C at 1500 and 1600 and was still 15C at 2000. Ground
winds were initially WSW (occasionally SE) 2-7 km/h, but by 0900 they
were SW gusting to 25 km/h, and after 1100 10-20 gusting 40 km/h,
while ridge winds were strong WSW to SW gusting to a maximum of 104
km/h at 1500. The count ended with the highest daily total since
April 15 with 22 birds moving between 0807 and 1958 with 14 of the
birds occurring after 1800. The first 2 birds moved along the western
ridges but the rest were generally first seen over or approaching
Mount Lorette and probably originated from Wasootch Creek having
moved to the NW below and east of the Fisher Range ridge. The flight
comprised 2 adult Bald Eagles, 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1j,1u), 2
Red-tailed Hawks of unknown race, morph or age and 16 Golden Eagles
(2a,1sa,10j,3u). Other birds included 1 drumming Red-naped Sapsucker,
1 Tree Swallow, 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 3 Mountain Bluebirds, at
least 22 American Pipits, 40 Bohemian Waxwings and 1 Song Sparrow. 14
hours BAEA 2 (90), SSHA 2 (25), RTHA 2 (52), GOEA 16 (1034) TOTAL 22
(1259)

LORETTE SUMMARY
COUNT (March 1 to April 22)

(With
the variance from the average of the 1993-2011 spring counts for the
period in parenthesis)

April
21 [Day
47] (Cliff Hansen, assisted by Chris Hunt) The temperature rose to a
high of 12C between 1600 and 1800 from -3C and was 6.5C at 2030.
Ground winds were W to 1100, SW to 1800 and then S, 5-10 km/h to
noon, with gusts to 22 km/h to 2000 after which it was 5-10 km/h
again, while ridge winds were probably SW light to moderate. Cloud
cover was initially 10% cirrostratus becoming 40% at 1100 and
decreasing after 1200 to 10% for the rest of the day with a trace of
cumulus developing after 2000. The only migrant raptors seen were 2
unaged Bald Eagles that glided high overhead as silhouettes at 1258
and 1 juvenile Golden Eagle at 1922. Other birds included 5 American
Pipits, 36 dark-eyed Juncos and 1 male Brewer's Blackbird, while
butterflies comprised 1 Mourning Cloak and 6 Milbert's
Tortoiseshells. 13.33 hours (481.4) BAEA 2 (88), GOEA 1 (1018) TOTAL
3 (1237)

April
20 [Day
46] (Terry Waters) Heavy rain obscured all ridges until 1300, when
the temperature was 5C that reached a high of 10C at 1800, ground
winds were SW 20-30 gusting 50 km/h all afternoon, while ridge winds
were SW-WSW gusting to 84 km/h at 1300 and 42-55 km/h in the late
afternoon. The 100% low stratus cleared after 1300 giving way to
70-80% cumulus for the rest of the day. The eastern ridges cleared
quickly after 1300 as did the western ridges which, however, clouded
over again to 70% from 1500 to the end of the day. The only migrant
raptor seen was an adult male columbarius
Merlin that flew low and fast to the north over the centre of the
valley. Other birds in a rather thin day included 2 Ruby-crowned
Kinglets, 3 Mountain Bluebirds and 14 Dark-eyed Juncos. 5 hours
(468.07) MERL 1 (5) TOTAL 1 (1234)

April
19 [Day
45] (Terry Waters) The temperature was -4C at 0830, rose to a high of
9C from 1500-1900 and was 7C at 1900. Ground winds were light SE at
first becoming light SW at 1100 and SW 10-20 gusting 30 km/h after
1400 before they diminished late in the day, while ridge winds were
moderate SW with a maximum gust of 67 at 1800. Cloud cover was
initially 10% scattered cumulus which gradually increased throughout
the day reaching 80% cumulus and stratocumulus by late afternoon.
Viewing conditions were excellent and there was a slow but steady
movement of raptors with 11 birds seen between 1125 and 1710. Five
adult light morph calurus
Red-tailed
Hawks all moved to the north above the centre of the valley, and 1
adult Bald Eagle and 5 Golden Eagles (2sa,3u) moved to the NW from
the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette. A single Greater Yellowlegs was
presumably one of those seen yesterday, while other bird species
included 4 Tree Swallows, 3 Mountain Bluebirds, 2 Varied Thrushes, 36
American Robins, 4 Bohemian Waxwings, 12 Dark-eyed Juncos and 1 male
Red-winged Blackbird. 10.5 hours (463.07) BAEA 1 (86), RTHA 5 (50),
GOEA 5 (1017) TOTAL 11 (1233)

April
18 [Day
44] (Cliff Hansen, assisted by Kevin Barker) the day's high
temperature was 9C at 1700, rising from a morning low of 5C and
falling to 3.5C at 2000. Ground winds were S 5-10 gusting 15 km/h to
1400 after which they were variably SW-SE 5-10 gusting 15 km/h for
the rest of the day, while ridge winds were mainly moderate SW-WSW
gusting to 56 km/h in mid-afternoon. Low stratus and fog obscured
everything until 0900 after which the ridges started to clear and
were all clear by 1100. The cloud cover began to break slightly at
0900 producing 80-100% cumulus, altocumulus and cirrus to 1900 and
80-90% altocumulus and altostratus after that. Two short but intense
snow squalls briefly obscured everything from 1430 to 1455 and from
1935 to 1955. Once again raptor movement was disappointing with only
1 juvenile Golden Eagle at 1530 and 1 adult Golden Eagle at 1914,
although the resident pair was seen briefly clasping talons during a
courtship flight. Other birds seen included the season's first 2
Greater Yellowlegs, 10,75 hours (452.57) GOEA 2 (1012) TOTAL 2 (1222)

April
17 [Day
43] (Joel Duncan) The temperature at 0900 was 2C, fell to the day's
low of 1C at 1000, rose to a high of 3C at 1500 and was still 2C at
1900. Ground winds were NE all day 8-15 gusting 30 km/h while ridge
winds were light to moderate SW (occasionally WSW or SSW) gusting to
29 km/h at 1400. Cloud cover was initially 100% low altostratus that
produced very light snow flurries, which gradually decreased to 30%
altocumulus, cumulus and altostratus at 1500 before increasing again
to 70% at the end of the day. All ridges were obscured until 1100
after which they gradually cleared with the east fully clear at 1330
and all ridges clear at 1500. Raptor movement was disappointing with
only 3 birds seen: 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk at 1140 and 2 adult
Bald Eagles at 1242. Because of the lack of birds Joel moved to the
Lusk Creek site from 1700 to 1900 but found that it was no better
there. A flock of 25 Dark-eyed Juncos in the Hay Meadow included 2
male “Pink-sided” Juncos (J.h.mearnsi).
10 hours (441.82) BAEA 2 (85), SSHA 1 (23) TOTAL 3 (1220)